How Many OTs in Hockey
Answer:
There is typically one overtime (OT) period in hockey, but there can be multiple overtime periods depending on the situation.
Supporting Facts:
1. Regular season games: In the regular season, if the game is tied at the end of regulation time (three 20-minute periods), a single five-minute sudden death overtime period is played.
2. Playoff games: In playoff games, the same format as the regular season is followed, with the addition that if the game is still tied after the first overtime period, more overtime periods are played until a team scores and wins the game.
3. Length of overtime periods: Both in regular season and playoff games, each overtime period is typically 20 minutes long. However, this can vary in some leagues, where they might use different lengths, such as 10 or 15 minutes, to determine a winner.
4. Penalty rules: In overtime, some leagues modify the penalty rules, where a minor penalty might result in a power play for the non-offending team, while majors or misconducts may still remain as normal.
5. Shootouts: If no team manages to score during the overtime period(s), some leagues, including the NHL, use a shootout to determine a winner. Each team takes a certain number of shots, and the team with the most goals is declared the winner.
FAQs:
1. Can a game end in a tie after regulation time?
No, in regular season games, if the teams are tied at the end of the third period, an overtime period is played to determine a winner.
2. How many overtime periods can be played in a regular season game?
Only one overtime period is played in a regular season game. If the game is still tied after the overtime period, it ends in a tie.
3. Can playoff games have multiple overtime periods?
Yes, playoff games can have multiple overtime periods until a team scores and wins the game.
4. Are penalty rules the same in overtime as in regulation time?
Some leagues modify the penalty rules in overtime, where minor penalties might result in a power play for the non-offending team.
5. How long are the overtime periods in hockey?
Generally, each overtime period is 20 minutes long, but some leagues may have different durations.
6. Is there a shootout in every game that goes into overtime?
No, not all leagues use a shootout to determine a winner. Shootouts are used in some leagues, like the NHL, if no team scores during the overtime period(s).
7. Can a shootout determine the winner in playoff games as well?
No, in playoff games, if no team scores during the overtime period(s), additional overtime periods are played until a team scores a goal and wins the game.
BOTTOM LINE:
In hockey, there is usually one overtime period for regular season games, and potentially multiple overtime periods for playoff games until a winning goal is scored. Overtime periods are typically 20 minutes long, but this can vary among different leagues. The penalty rules may also be modified in overtime, and in some leagues, a shootout may be used to determine a winner if no team scores during the overtime period(s).
